The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-29
THE PLUNGER OF THE WEST.
Success la the Pool Rooms Of "PItisburg
Phil"

Chicago Tribune.
Last week the sporting world Of Chi
cago became agog at the Successes of the
man known as simply ''Pittsburg Phil"
Saturday night il WAS generally known
that by picking the winning horses of
the day this individual had increased his
bank account some $ll 900, and it was
said of the eleven races of the day lac hal
beaten ten. Five years ago the law pro
hibiting pool selling having been passed
in Ohio, II. o. Price, Of Cleveland, mi
grated To Pittsburg There he found "A
field for the institution Of business 80
thriving that for the years 1892 and 1883
the concern of Price ~ Co. was the most
extensive of the kind in the West, with
the single exception OF Riley az Co., Chi
cago. Every method of getting in the
money" was in vogue and the room was
crowded with eager spectators. One
day the cashier was astonished when the
winning ticket of the combination
was presented 10y quiet, gentleman
like little fellow of possibly IL years of
age. The ticket cost 81 and paid some
where about $500. Glow did You hap
pen to try these horsesy" he asked the
lucky boy, who answered: "Oh, / have
been reading about how they ran yes
terday the day before. and last week,
and thought they ought 90 win to-day
Thereafter the boy always came into
seat, and now and then would
buy an auction pool. His transactions
became greater month by month, and
il was generally known that Phil had
wonderfully good Judgment, luck, or
what you will.
In 1884 Phil left Pittsburg HE has
made money" IL was said, and prob
ably has gone away 10 some one OF the
| running tracks" Even money that
that Volante beats Dewdrop," sang out
James Murphy in Rileys pool room in
Gamblers alley. Murphy Is reputed to
| be the heaviest better In the West, nj
ways excepting Richard Roche, of 81.
Louis, Taken for $500" said the auc-
tioneer. well, I'll go IL again, returned
the maker of the proposition. THE
gentleman says yes, responded Bran
nigan. $50 IL again, said Murphy.
And 80 bet after bet was registered un-
ill Mr.. NJ. was accommodated to the tune
of $500.
The general query, "Who took the
Dewdrop endy' was answered: There
he stands, half hidden by that post"
slight shift Of position disclosed a slsn-
der young man Of modest mien and UNI
assuming dress who proved TO DE mus
burg Phil" He said he had left the
Smoky City for "A field more worthy Of
his powers. And that success has fol-
lowed his efforts in shown 10y the snug
amount of $40 900 to his credit in one Of
the Pittsburg banks.
An babitue of the pool room who
knows the young fellow well. says;
This plungcr Of the West IL a man who
neither smokes, drinks nor CANDLES.
The placing Of money on n horse 10 win
is simply with him business specula-
ton. The moment the report Of the last
race is read out in the street lac goes, and
that is the last any of the ''gang" see Of
him until the pool rooms open in the
morning. In the seclusion Of his room
he il studying every daily. weekly or pc
riodical that can In any way further his
business interest. Tom. Dick or Harry
may POSSIBLY keep track Of such horses
AZ run |. 2, 3, but he Is said Ia ascertain
what happened the favorite Of yester-
day, (Which horse failed To get place.
and therefore knows Tomorrow whether
or no the good things failing was the
result of accident. One day last year
Mary Kennedy won in field of fifteen
starters at one of the Eastern tracks.
Phil won some 5000 or $1,000 ON the
race, getting as long price as IL 10 for
some Of his money. This mare had
never run Il. 2, q i'm any kind Of com
pany. Where did lac get his linei One
day in looking over the report of race,
he saw that the first three horses fin
ished heads on, and that Mary Ken
nedy was fourth. beaten neck for third
place. So when she started In field Of
CRABS with weight oil, he thought her
good enough 10 win. And he never
would have got that - 900 IL his system
of informing himself were not so per
feet. There are possibly hundreds of
tips from well-informed men sent 10
,he pool rooms every day: Phil pays
for No messages, but simply plays the
horse 'by performance.